Wallace Collection

1. Labels. Wallace Collection

I feel that the titles and artist names are more integrated with the art when they are engraved upon the frames. In the case of the ornate, gold frames, the titles and artist names fit in perfectly and add elegance to the pieces with the gold labels being on the frames, instead of on the wall beside the picture, distracting from the beautiful wallpaper. For this collection, which is very elegant and over-the-top with bold, gold frames I prefer the titles and names to be integrated into the artwork. However, for other museums with less detailed wallpaper and framing I think object labels are more appropriate.

2. Object of Appreciation. Wallace Collection

I was really captivated by the large rooms of weapons and armour on the main floors. I was suprised to find how beautifully decorated some of the daggers and swords were and by how small the sets of armour appeared to be. This was the largest collection of armour I have ever seen and is something I would go back to observe and look at in closer detail.

3. Object of Excessive details/ornamentation Wallace Collection

I was intrigued by the painting of Venice located on the ground floor of the Collection. These painting caught my attention because of the excessive detail in the picture that captured every ripple of water. I was also able to appreciate this picture because I have been to Venice this semester and am able to recognize the true beauty of the city in that picture. One thing that I did find excessive is the ornamentation of all of the rooms in the collection. At times I found myself much more intrigued by the wallpaper and curtains than by the paintings themself. I feel that in some cases the ornate decorations of the rooms took away from the beauty of the art.

4. Favorite Museum

My favorite museum experience was when we visited the Saatchi Gallery. I loved this museum because of how unique the art was in both style and display. I also really enjoyed the tour guide that took us around the museum and told us about various pieces of art because it helped me to appreciate the art much more than I would have if I had not been informed about it. I was also really amazed by the room that was completely filled with oil. At first sight it seemed like a type of optical illusion until you realized that the oil was reflecting the rest of the room. Looking at an art display like that made me appreciate how much work goes into different pieces of art.

5. Museum Interest

I definately have a greater interest in visting Museums after taking this course. I have never been one to enjoy going to museums before, but this course helped me to appreciate museums, especially in London where they are free, for the true beauty and history that they make available for the public. I was definately intimidated by art before this course, but now I feel that I don't need to be an art expert to visit a museum just to take in its beauty and look around. I also appreciate this course for offering a different perspective for me in terms of branding and design. I would never have payed much attention to the logo or layout of a museum before, but now I find myself critquing different types of type face and thinking of ways that the logo would look more intriguing and creative.

6. Any additional comments

I really enjoyed taking both classes with you this semester Steven! I loved to be able to take your assignments in my own direction and write about things I was interested in. This class helped me to develop an interest in museums that I never thought was possible before because they always seemed so boring to me. Before this class there's no way that I could stare, fascinated at a room completely filled with oil or sunflower seeds and think it was so amazing. Thank you for taking the time to get to know all of us and share your knowledge about graphics and design and incorporate it into the course. I'm looking forward to my independent study with you next semester!

Design Museum

Brit Insurance Design Awards: Your Vote

Architecture: I would honor the Open Air Library because it is an environmental-friendly way to enhance a community's knowledge and society. I really love this idea because I am an avid reader and love to read outside whenever the weather permits me to.

Furniture: I would honor the Sayl Task Chair because because it is a very supportive chair that eliminates the issue of back pain and the flexible material forms to your body. As a student who spends many hours slumped over a desk, I would really appreciate a chair like this because I experience back pain on a regular basis from the hours I spend studying.

Transport: I would honor the Barclays Cycle Hire, Transport for London & Serco. I chose this idea because after living in London, I am amazed by how many people I see riding bikes around the city and through the park. London is a very clean and environmental-friendly city and having these bikes incorporated into city life has helped keep the city clean. These bikes are very affordable and located all around the city so transportation is always readily accessible.

Graphics: I would honor A Love Letter For You. This project is a graffiti love letter that was posted all over cities to brighten people's moods. I love the idea of this and watching the video in the museum made me smile. A video camera filmed these elements of graffiti art all over the place and they were able to beautify many areas.

Wim Crouwel: A Graphic Odyssey

When I walked into the Wim Crouwel exhibition I did not know what to expect or where to begin. There were pictures and graphics all over the room. I found the exhibit minimal and boring. I was soon anxious to venture up to the exhibit on the other floor. I can appreciate that he has made major contributes to the world of design, but I am not very interested in graphics and was not able to understand a lot of his work. I feel that the way his work was displayed was overwhelming and quicking turned me off from further exploration.

When I look at the posters of Wim Crouwel I think of the artists we have seen whose work is very repetitive in its style and incorporates lots of color. The colors of Mark Rothko emerge in the posters with his bright blending of cool and hot colors and Jackson Pollock's splatter-paint art is also familiar in his art with its repitition and vast use of color. The repeated shapes on the wall remind me of the geometric sculptures created my Donald Judd. Wim Crouwel's work is a combination of geometric shapes, colors, and logos that are appealing and creative.

Saatchi Gallery

Sightlines

This gallery enables various sightlines to engage new methods for viewing objects. This museum is unique and unlike any of the others we have visited this semester. It exhibits different works and forms of modern art. The gallery consists of paintings, drawings, sculptures, posters, and even a room filled completely with oil. Because the museum consists of so many diverse art forms, there are various sightlines to view the objects. For example, when viewing a sculpture, the observer can walk around the object and view it from every angle. Another example is the wall full of puerto-rican graves which could be viewed from the ground and from the floor above on a balcony. These various sightlines help the observers to truly get a sense of the artwork. The pieces of art work are also displayed spread out from each other so that you can view one piece of artwork without being distracted by another. The sightlines at the Saatchi Gallery depart from other museum visists because other museums did not have to provide so many different vantage points for viewing art because the art collections were not as diverse. I also found this museum to be much more spread out and minimalistic with the exhibits in each room so that the individual art works could be appreciated without the distraction of another piece.

Didactics

The Saatchi Gallery is unique in that the galleries present minimal text in relation to the art. The purpose for this is so that each viewer can take what the may out of the art, without being pre-disposed to its "meaning" by the text. I like the idea of this and think that viewing art is a personal experience that is different for everyone. However, there were instances where I found it hard to even find the artist's name and think that this is an important aspect to display in text besides the artwork. Other information that I would appreciate is the title of the art work because it gives me a sense of what the artist is trying to portray without completely skewing my judgment of the piece. I would also like to know how the artwork was created because in some cases I am able to further appreciate the art when I know the great length the artist went to create it. An example of this are the two statues we saw in the first room created out of clay, where the artist climbed down through the clay for the "down" statue and up through a block of clay for the "up" statue". I wouldn't have known that was how the piece of art was created unless I had been told and I really enjoyed these two statues, especially after I learned the length the artist went to create them.

Collection

I find the works on view at the Saatchi Gallery more adventurous than museums. There are some works that would not be displayed in a museum, or at least not most museums, such as the work that is a collection of spam advertising. This piece of art work may be questionable in subject matter to some viewers, due to the fact that it questions religion and displays pornographic images, but I find it to be unique and adventurous. This piece of artwork is unlike anything I have seen in museums here in London, but speaks toward a greater cause, which is how all of our needs and desires are targeted through spam mail. I also would never have seen a room completely filled with oil in any other museum here in London and this was also a truly unique experience to me. I think that because this is a modern art museum some of the work is very edgy and unique. I can see how some people would think some of the art is questionable in craft and subject matter, but I appreciate how different the art is and how diverse the collection at the museum is.